How to Get the Most Out of Your Toyota Hybrid's Electric Power

 Electric power is all the rage in the automotive world and it looks like it's going to stay that way for the foreseeable future. After all, how could it not? EVs save people money on fueling (a lot of money), they're equipped with super advanced tech, and they look damn cool. While the world is reacting to what seems like a sudden shift to EV technology, the truth is that the automotive landscape has been moving this way for a few decades now. Think back to 1997 with the first Toyota Prius. 

Today, Toyota's lineup has expanded the Toyota hybrid formula to include the drivetrain on just about every car available. While Toyota's 3 EVs aren't quite here yet, drivers who enjoy the Prius and RAV4 Prime can take advantage of enhanced electric power, like EV only driving. How can you take advantage of this feature and take your Toyota hybrid came to the next level, you ask? Toyota of Clermont is here with some answers!

Taking Your Toyota Hybrid to the Next Level

Not only can driving a Clermont Toyota hybrid save you money on fueling costs, it can help you up your EV game without leaving the Toyota lineup. Both Prime vehicles get a fair amount of miles where only electric power can be used. Here's how to take advantage of this excellent feature:

Know the Specs

While it doesn't take much to read the pamphlet (Tokyo Drift reference?), knowing the exact specs of your Toyota hybrid can help you go a long way. One important metric to watch for is the MPGe and it's likely that you don't know exactly what this number means. For clarification, bear with us a moment. 

Fuel efficiency is an ultra-important metric measured and calculated by the EPA. To calculate this Clermont metric, the amount of heat (energy) generated by burning gasoline is taken into account. Typically this number is 115,000 BTUs (British Thermal Unit). This is how you start to calculate MPG. Similarly, EVs are also measured to determine heat generation and that number is calculated at 33.7 kWh (kilowatt hours). MPGe essentially is a conversion from gasoline energy generation. It's measured on a travel distance of 100 miles. So a 32 MPG car will get 32 miles per gallon of fuel burned on a scale of 100 miles while an MPGe of 96 means about 96 miles of travel for the electrical power exertion equivalent. It's a tad confusing, but just look for the higher number and you should be fine. 

Also keep in mind the EV only driving mileage as well. The RAV4 Prime can achieve 42 miles of only electric driving while the Prius Prime can get 25. Imagine commuting to and from work without burning a single ounce of gas!

Charge it!

If you're someone with a phone that's always dying, what are you doing? But, seriously, keeping your Toyota hybrid battery charged is always a good idea. Especially because you never know when you'll want to cash in on that dose of EV only driving. Make sure to dedicate some time to plugging in your Orlando Toyota Prime vehicle into an outlet at your home or an electric charger while you're out and about!

Time for an Upgrade

There's always something out there that's better than standard equipment (gotta love capitalism, right?). When it comes to charging your Toyota hybrid RAV4 or Prius Prime, charging the battery is a very easy process. Simply plug the cable into an outlet and then the nozzle into your vehicle and let the charging begin. The problem is that this route is going to take about 12 hours. For those of us homebodies out there, no problemo. But, this can cause quite a headache for the busy bees that rely on their car and want to use the several miles of EV only driving to their advantage. Customers who drive a RAV4 or Prius Prime can upgrade their cable from the standard 110V model to a 240V model that vastly improves the charge time. 

To make it even more efficient to charge your ride at home, consider upgrading your outlets from level 1 to level 2 output. This increases the overall wattage coming out of your outlets and gives more power to the cable you're using. If you don't want to break the bank though, patience is always free. 

Still need help making the most of your Toyota hybrid's electric power? Toyota of Clermont is here to help! Swing by the dealership today at 16851 State Road 50.